Witchery ~ Missus Knickertwist's Guide to Magickal Cleansing

Every so often life gets messy. There are moments when everything seems to be going in the wrong direction and we just can’t catch a break. Whenever these spats arise one of the things we like to do is cleanse, clear and protect our home.

Not everyone knows how to cleanse their home really well and so I’m going to share the technique that we have used with great success for a number of years. In my opinion (and experience) it isn’t enough to sweep the negativity away. Doing a thorough job will yield much better, longer lasting results.

The first thing we do is clean our space. I mean really clean it. Get out the dust rags, vacuum, scrub brush and broom to make your space shine. Think of each spec of dust as a little piece of negativity that you are getting rid of. For me, the act of cleaning really helps me to see both the actual, and metaphysical clutter being removed. Try to do the best job you can. If you can clean out closets and neglected drawers all the better.

The next thing that I do is pull out my bottle of four thieves vinegar. I use the vinegar directly on all countertops and other surfaces that won’t be damaged by the vinegar itself. I pour a healthy dose into my rinse water bucket for use on the floors. Lastly, and this is a very nice little bit of trickery, I use it on all the doorways, doorknobs and window frames in the house.

After we’ve cleaned we smudge each room. I start in the basement and work my way up to the main floor; I walk through every room, paying special attention to mirrors, corners, windows and doorways. When I smudge doorways and windows I visualize the smoke providing a barrier of protection. To smudge you could use either a smudge stick, incense sticks or, my personal favourite, loose incense on hot coals.

Lastly, when I feel that the inside of my house is lovely and shiny, I go outside and sprinkle black salt (you could try plain sea salt) around the perimeter of our property. As I do this I think about keeping all unwanted outside influences from coming onto our property. I visualize negativity dissolving into nothing or turning away as it attempts to cross over the salt.

That’s our routine but here are a few other tid-bits that you may find helpful.

- Cut a lemon into quarters and leave a wedge in each corner of a room to absorb negative energy

- Sprinkle a little sea salt on your floors, let it soak up the ickiness for a short while before sweeping or vacuuming it away

- For rooms or areas that don’t feel quite clean enough I go back and burn some extra incense, allowing the smoke to fill the room

- If you don’t like incense you may want to sprinkle some water around your house, you can add lemon juice, herbs or sea salt to boost the effectiveness. You could even try using a spray bottle/mister.

- Flowers and plants always cheer a space up.

- Open your windows!

- Light some candles as you clean (remember: safety first!) Beeswax candles are very effective cleansing tools.

- Baking soda is a great alternative to harsh chemical cleansers